A river otter pulled a small child under the water state of washington Thursday morning while a mother and child were walking on a dock, wild officials said.
The otter continued to attack as the mother struggled to pull her child from the water at the Bremerton Marina, and she was bitten on the arm by the animal. The couple was pursued by the otter when they left the dock, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) said in a news release.
The child suffered scratches and bites on the head, face and legs and was treated in hospital.
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Otter attacks are rare in Washington, officials said. (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
“We are thankful that the victim only sustained minor injuries, due to the quick action of the mother and the resiliency of the child,” said WDFW Sgt. Ken Balazs. “We also want to thank the Port of Bremerton for their prompt coordination and communication with their tenants at the port.”
The otter was later captured and euthanized by the US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, and its body will be tested for rabies at the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab.
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According to WDFW, river otters are common in the state and live in fresh, brackish or saltwater environments.
The department said that while encounters with otters are rare, the animals can be territorial. They can also protect food resources, especially when those resources are scarce.
The attack occurred at the port of Bremerton in Washington state. (Port of Bremerton)
In the past decade, there have been six documented incidents between river otters and humans in the state, the department said.
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Last year, three women in Montana were injured after they were attacked by an otter while wading in the Jefferson River. One of the women was airlifted with serious injuries.
Last year in California, a sea otter known as “841” also received a lot of attention for wrestling surfboards from surfers off the coast of Santa Cruz.
Fox News Digital’s Julia Musto contributed to this report.